159 - Analysis of Dental Claims to Evaluate the Impact of COVID-19

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate if there were changes in the type and number of restorative dental treatment and routine surgical procedures rendered to pediatric patients as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of Medicaid dental claims from an urban outpatient dental clinic was performed. Deidentified claims of children ages 2 to 13 years old were included in the study. Dental procedures used for comparison were selected based on Current Dental Terminology (CDT) codes for simple dental extractions (D7140) and restorative procedures – one-surface restorations (D2140, D2330, D2391), multi-surface restorations (D2150, D2331, D2332, D2335, D2392), full-coverage restorations (D2390, D2930) and pulpal therapy (D3120, D3110, D3220). Information including patient age at time of treatment, date and treatment location were also obtained.

Results: 2,668 claims were included for analysis. A total of 1,751 claims were included from March 13, 2019 to December 31, 2019 and 917 claims were included from March 13, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Total procedure rates per month and procedure rates per individual child were used for comparisons. Full-coverage restoration procedure rates per month were significantly higher in 2019 than 2020 (p < 0.016). Full coverage restoration procedure rates per individual child were significantly higher in 2019 than 2020 (p < 0.021). Completed claims in 2020 indicate a 13% decrease in procedures completed in a General Anesthesia setting, a 5% increase in procedures completed utilizing oral sedation, and an 11% increase in procedures completed in an ambulatory setting.

Conclusions: The number of full-coverage restorations completed in 2020 for children ages 2-13 years old decreased due to changes in access to care related to the COVID-19 pandemic. More procedures were completed in the outpatient clinical setting in 2020 versus the surgical setting: oral sedation was also utilized more due to delays in providing comprehensive dental treatment in the operating room caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.